Rights panel concerned over incentive-based population policy

NHRC wrote to all states earlier this month seeking details of their population policies by May 31.

Deeply concerned over the incentive-based population policies framed by some state governments,the National Human Rights Commission NHRC is mulling to frame guidelines and has sought details from states.

The NHRC wrote to all states earlier this month seeking details of their population policies by May 31.

8220;The Commission has been deeply concerned about population policies framed by state governments. It has been observed that some state governments have adopted the method of incentives/disincentives for adopting small family norms8230;,8221; the letter said.

The letter written by J S Kochher,Joint Secretary Training in NHRC,noted that small family norms were a 8220;gross violation of human rights,particularly the woman8217;s reproductive rights.

It is mandatory for India to abandon targets and come up with a programme that moved away from incentives and disincentives as New Delhi is a signatory to the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994.

8220;We want to collect some details from the states. We will study it. Then we will make some policy,8221; NHRC Chairperson K G Balakrishnan told PTI.

The Supreme Court had earlier this month sought the stands of the Centre and various state governments on a plea alleging sterilisation of women under torchlight,in various places,specially in Bihar,in gross violation of medical and ethical norms.

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A controversy had also broken out in Madhya Pradesh last month when an unmarried youth was subjected to vasectomy during a public camp held in Rewa district.

Balakrishnan also said the 2011 Census has thrown out alarming information about declining sex ratio. 8220;There are widespread allegations of female foeticide. This is a very unfortunate situation. These things are done in a clandestine manner.

8220;It is very startling that the economically weaker sections are into such things. The most affluent sections of society are also into such things. It is not that the child could not be reared. We should change the mindset,8221; he said.

To examine the population policy and chalk out a better strategy keeping in human rights,the NHRC had in 2007 constituted a Working Group which devised a reporting format to collect information from all states.

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8220;In the meantime,the new Census has been carried out,which reveals the child sex ratio has decreased from 927/1000 in 2001 to 914/2011 in 20118230; this is a matter of great concern.

8220;Besides,during a span of more than four years,a number of developments might have taken place related to population issues in the states,8221; the letter said pointing out the need for the exercise to find out existing policies adopted by various states.